Shane Ryan@ShaneRyanHere
Ten Monday thoughts on the 2026 Masters:
1. I got my Sunday predictions wildly wrong, mostly because I thought it would be inevitable that someone made a run to force everyone else to respond. Someone kinda did, Scottie, but he was just a little too far down (or Hatton, if you want to pretend he had a chance). In the last three groups, it was one of the more passive Masters Sundays I've seen.
2. Rory's bounce-back ability, which you can call "short memory," is impressive in both the short- and long-term. I truly can't think of another player (for instance) who would have survived that three-putt on 4. After it happened, I said, "this guy lost the Masters on the 12th hole on Saturday," and it felt like one of those rock-solid bits of analysis. Never in a million years would've thought he could come back to win.
3. Cam Young wasn't quite who I thought he was yesterday, somehow a little more wild *and* less confident than I expected. On the back nine, he looked almost cowed and disappointed, a very different person than we saw in the closing stretch at Sawgrass. He'll be back, but I thought it would be his day.
4. I've never seen a clearer example of the moment being too big than Burns on hole 2. Ties the lead, and it's like a blaring "you're tied for the lead at Augusta on Sunday!" sign went off in his head, with instant repercussions.
5. This is more brutal for Justin Rose than anyone. Going out in 32, having the two-shot lead early on the back, and to not just lose, but unlike past years to basically give it away...it's one thing for Burns or Young to look less than ready, but Rose was/is ready, and this was his big chance to cap off the second act of his career. My guess is it won't get this good again.
6. The Rory drive on 18 is still just so insane. Imagine the world we're living in right now if that gets stuck behind a tree and Scottie beats him in a playoff.
7. This has been said plenty, but it was just an absurdly good weekend for Scottie, which of course means we'll all be looking at this like a huge lost opportunity considering the 70-74 start. But I almost think it re-affirms how great he is in another way. He has a way of at least trying to steal Rory's thunder, last year winning two majors after Rory won the Masters, and it would be interesting this year to see him try it again by winning the career slam at the USO.
8. Illogical Jordan hope is so high now after his ball-striking this week. Surely he will learn to putt again, right??
9. Do we think the lack of scoring in the final three groups was nerves or the course toughening up?
10. Rory is one of the great men of golf history now, endlessly complicated, larger-than-life, and my take on him is always that nothing is quite as tidy as it looks, in good times or bad. His charisma and likability (or, if you're a hater, the opposite of those things) disguises what I think of his essence, a force of nature who loves the stage and is impossible to deny. I think what I appreciate about him most here in 2026 is how he's never been cowed, and has that irrepressible core that, love it or hate it, always seeks out and eventually finds competitive greatness.
